Rheumatology (Arthritis)

Welcome to Rheumatology and thank you for your interest in our work. Rheumatology provides care for patients with the full spectrum of rheumatic and autoimmune diseases. These include arthritis and allied conditions and disorders of connective tissue.

The Arthritis Center is a significant outpatient facility with more than 6,000 patient visits annually. Each year, the consultation service sees approximately 400 inpatients.

Our Services

The Rheumatology clinical faculty members have special interest in and treat patients with the following diseases:

• Scleroderma
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatic disease in the geriatric patient
• Dermato(poly)myositis and arteritis
• Osteoporosis and other metabolic diseases of bone
• Immune mediated thromboembolic disease.

The Rheumatology research faculty members focus on molecular pathogenesis of fibrosis, recognition of immunological self from non-self on the basis of autoimmunity, mechanics of inflammation, and novel biologic therapies for Raynaud, immunological and rheumatic diseases. Additional active research programs examine genetic basic of scleroderma, and the long-term outcomes, epidemiology, risk factors and economic burden of chronic arthritis and other rheumatic diseases.

Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis or “RA", is the second most common kind of arthritis and affects an estimated 1 to 2% of the world's population. RA is, however, a reasonably well-defined entity: a chronic, symmetric, polyarthritis (an arthritis involving more than 5 separate joints). Distinguishing characteristics include a positive blood test for rheumatoid factor in most patients, additional laboratory evidence of inflammation, lumps under the skin ("rheumatoid nodules"), specific joint involvement, and "proliferative" joint destruction. Even so, diagnosis is not always obvious.